http://www.ofb.biz/safari/ Commentary, reviews and instructive articles on current events, technology, philosophy, religion, politics and other relevant matters. en-us http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/659.html Dennis E. Powell Happy surprises are so rare that when one occurs it’s worth passing along. I had been worried that I was running out of propane. It had been a year or more since the big tank got filled and, glancing at the gauge a few weeks ago I saw it was pretty low. Sat, 31 July 2010 2:37:35 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/658.html Jason Kettinger Mike Abernathy climbed into his new Camry, confident he’d made the right choice. It’d run forever; the new engines had been developing at a rapid pace, and Mike could be a man while getting “green points” too. And to think he’d be sitting in one now, after the foolis... Mon, 26 July 2010 21:1:20 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/657.html Timothy R. Butler Henry David Thoreau famously wrote on life by a pond some one hundred and fifty-six years ago. As I sat looking out a window upon glistening water earlier this week, I realized quibbles with the transcendentalists aside, I too needed a Walden Pond. Sun, 25 July 2010 3:4:23 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/656.html Dennis E. Powell The chips tasted pretty good — then I saw the words that made me put them down. No, the bag did not say “contains triglycerides” or “full of transfats.” It said — proudly, if you can believe it — “with sea salt.” Tue, 20 July 2010 4:15:7 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/655.html Ed Hurst As a historian, I know what we call today “Western Civilization” was largely based on Christianity. I also know that it was a particular brand of Christianity. I leave for another day the debate whether that particular brand is now, or was then, the true Church. However, it is no crit... Tue, 20 July 2010 0:30:13 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/654.html Dennis E. Powell This year I may have to can some tomatoes. The “putting up” of vegetables was an annual ritual when I was a child, and as a grownup I’ve threatened to do it from time to time, but this year it might just happen. Fri, 16 July 2010 1:1:18 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/653.html Jason Kettinger The second of four releases by Robin Thicke in 2006, the Evolution of Robin Thicke made him a star. As a journey through sixteen tracks, this album is tantalizingly uneven. Even so, if the next releases ever add up to a total album, this guy will be on top of the world. Thu, 15 July 2010 4:39:35 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/652.html Dennis E. Powell Who are these people? What is this place? If I had a dime for every time I’ve asked those questions in the last week, I’d be well-set financially. Wed, 7 July 2010 22:57:39 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/651.html Timothy R. Butler It was a test of will power. When Apple unveiled the impressive iPhone 4 a few weeks ago, I said that I wasn’t going to buy one. I have last year’s model and that is quite good enough. I remained unconvinced. Sat, 3 July 2010 18:52:8 GMT http://www.ofb.biz/safari/article/650.html Dennis E. Powell The attic was hot, very dusty in a way that attics full of boxes can be, and peculiarly exciting. My family has usually succeeded in resisting an alarming tradition, that of getting rid of everything a relative owned as soon as possible after his or her death. When my mom died three summers ago, ... Mon, 28 June 2010 2:6:0 GMT